MUMBAI: Simon Wilson has been appointed bureau chief for the BBC in Jerusalem.

Wilson has covered conflicts in the Balkans and Middle East and has been a senior producer in Jerusalem for most of the current Palestinian uprising. He has also worked twice in Baghdad since the fall of Saddam.

He will replace Andrew Steele, who will become the BBC's Washington Bureau Chief. Wilson begins work in his new role in July. Wilson says, "This is an exciting and challenging time to be taking on this senior role. I have had a great three years travelling the region as a producer with some very talented and very brave BBC journalists and technical teams - I look forward to working with them to shape our coverage in the years ahead".

Before moving to the Middle East, Wilson was a specialist in European affairs. He attended University College School, London and Downing College, Cambridge, where he studied French and German.